Trainers and Staff at the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center

Connie Myers, Director

Connie has been with the Carhart Center since its establishment in August of 1993. Prior to her current position as Director, she worked as Assistant District Ranger on the Ninemile Ranger District, Lolo National Forest; Public Affairs Specialist on the Tongass National Forest Land Management Plan revision team; and Public Affairs Specialist/Social Scientist for the Ketchikan Area, Tongass National Forest. She holds a B.S. in Natural Resources Management from the University of Tennessee and M.S. degree in Natural Resource Management and Communications from Michigan State University. Contact Connie: cgmyers@fs.fed.us, 406-243-4645.

Chris Barns, Bureau of Land Management Representative

Chris came to the Carhart Center in 1999 after serving almost nine years as the lead of the Wilderness, Recreation and Paleontology program for the Bureau of Land Management's Farmington Office in northwest New Mexico, where he managed the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. Prior to that, Chris worked for the National Park Service at Zion, Isle Royale, and Lassen Volcanic National Parks after spending 17 years as a professional theatre director. Chris was graduated cum laude from Cornell University, went through the M.F.A. program of theatre at Penn State, and received an M.S. degree from the University of Minnesota's College of Natural Resources. Contact Chris: cvbarns@blm.gov, 406-243-4625.

Karen Lindsey, Fish and Wildlife Service Representative

Karen came to the Carhart Center in 2006 from the National Conservation Training Center where she planned, organized, coordinated, implemented and evaluated training programs in the technical and scientific fields including ecology, wildlife biology, and habitat restoration; and, in the land-based conservation and management programs including habitat management planning, monitoring, invasive species management and refuge management. Prior to that, Karen spent seven years as a refuge biologist at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. She holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Studies from Utah State University. Contact Karen: karen_lindsey@fws.gov, 406-243-4627.

Ken Straley, Forest Service Representative

Ken came to the Carhart Center in 2011 after working on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison National Forests. Throughout his 18-year career, Ken has served with the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in Utah, Arizona, and Colorado specializing in wilderness management and monitoring, trails, visitor information and education, recreation fee and permit programs, and watershed stabilization projects. He has also represented the Intermountain Region on the Forest Service's Wilderness Advisory Group and developed a Wilderness Ranger training program. Ken holds a B.S. degrees in Marketing and Natural Resources Recreation Planning and Management from the University of Utah. Contact Ken: kstraley@fs.fed.us, 406-243-4630.

Tim Devine, National Park Service Representative

Tim came to the Carhart Center in 2004 from Rocky Mountain National Park where he was the Wilderness Program Specialist for 13 years. He has over 25 years of experience working in a variety of wilderness parks including Shenandoah, Everglades, Big Cypress, Buffalo River, Mount Rainier, and Olympic. He holds an A.A.S. degree in Recreation and Wildlife from Hocking Technical College and a B.S. degree in Wildlife Management from the Ohio State University. Contact Tim: tim_devine@nps.gov, 406-243-4612.

Steve Archibald, Education & Outreach Specialist

Steve came to the Carhart Center in 2011 for a one-year position. Throughout his 20-year education career, Steve has been a classroom teacher, place-based outdoor educator, and workshop facilitator. He has taught a wide range of grades in a variety of locations. While on the faculty of Teton Science School in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Steve wrote the Journeys place-based education guide. Steve currently operates an educational consulting business working with the University of Montana, Forest Service, Bitterroot RC&D, the Carhart Center, the Farrington Foundation and others. Contact Steve: srarchibald@fs.fed.us, 406-243-4653.

Elaine Poser, Budget Administrator

Prior to joining the Carhart staff in 2001, Elaine worked as a Budget Analyst for the Rocky Mountain Research Station, in Fort Collins, CO; as Budget Program Assistant for Forest Service Region 1 Watershed, Wildlife, Fisheries and Rare Plants Staff, in Missoula, MT and in Personnel for Forest Service Region 1 Lewis and Clark National Forest, in Great Falls, MT. She holds a B.A. degree in Elementary Education from the University of Montana, has done graduate work in counseling and career guidance, and received training and certification in mediation. Contact Elaine: eposer@fs.fed.us, 406-243-4644.